The PIAF, RACE and AFFIRM have shown that chronic sinus rhythm is not necessarily associated with a reduced morbidity or enhanced quality of life. PIAF however showed that exercise tolerance was better when rhythm control was achieved. Further analyses of RACE and AFFIRM are pending. One drawback of the above studies is the fact that chronic sinus rhythm is difficult to obtain. In PIAF, RACE and AFFIRM only 30 to 50% was in sinus rhythm at the end of follow-up. By contrast, arrhythmia surgery is a highly effective treatment in this respect.